Yup, I cracked a block. Several months ago, I had the 2.3 out at the track. It had been smoking a bit when I let off the gas, and I assumed it was the turbo still acting badly, and no major problem. I made a pass, and ran 12.3 @ 111mph, but when I picked up the timeslip, the car was running on 3cyls and eating coolant. I assumed a bad headgasket and drove home about 25 miles and parked the car. I just recently got the head off and was surprised to see the headgasket was fine. I looked a bit closer today and found a crack in #2, right along the coolant passage. Crap. I'm a bit mad because I thought this block was suppose to be cabable of the abuse I gave it. I never overheated it and ran E85 with plenty of octane to keep detonation away. Guess it just couldn't handle 22psi and a 45 shot. ohh, incase you are wondering, the piston looks red because of a reflection from the hood.
Yup, it really sucks. And I'm not in a position to fix the car the right way now... becuase of the economy, I'm a full time student, trying to get setup for when the economy comes back. Anyone have any leads on a factory 2.3 turbo block in the midwest?
Here are a couple: 2.3 4cyl. turbo, with 5 speed trans. Ford Thunderbird TC 2.3 motor I don't know how close they are to you though. Respect for driving it like it was ment to be driven. Seems your always at the track. No trailer queens here
my guess is you had a small amount of air or the circulating coolant caused cavitation so you had small air pockets in the water jacket near there causing it to get supper hot in that spot, then when you let off much cooler coolant got past the air pocket cracking the block.
Sorry about the motor. Both of those engines are located in Missouri. Either way it look's like a 2 hour drive from Lawrence. Good luck with finding a new motor. Pearl02.
